Meet the team

Ecocert is a customer orientated operation with staff trained to provide a professional service. Our approach to certification is to ensure that our clientsunderstandwhat is required during an audit and to comply with the organic regulations and requirements.

Ecocert has the biggest team of any organic certification body in South Africa and is only one of a few international certification bodies to have an office in the country. We make use of local and international expertise to allow our clients access to international standards, yet understand local conditions.

Responsible for all certification decisions and technical aspects is Dr. Marianna Smith (PhD) (nee Steenkamp), a very well- known figure in the South African organic industry. Working under her is a team of organic auditors, which include Prof. Valdon Smith (PhD), Hendrik Louw, Daniël Kotze,Kobus Kellerman& Zander Venter.

Running the office is Lauren le Roux, who is responsible for all administrative related matters.

Together this team provides a wealth of knowledge and experience, which ensures that Ecocert remains one of the preferred Certification Bodies in Southern Africa.

The Team:

Marianna Smith:

The Southern African ECOCERT office is headed by Marianna Smith, who has a PhD in Sub-Antarctic Ecology. She has a wide knowledge base in social auditing and the commercialization of alternative crops. She has experience in setting up quality control at small rural enterprises and consulted to companies interested in organic and Fair Trade certification. Marianna joined Ecocert in 2013 as certification officer and in October 2014 she took the additional task as General manager of the office on her shoulders. Under her management the office expanded in size; both in clients and inspectors. The welfare of the local ECOCERT team and excellent service to clients is the determining success factor.

Hendrik Louw:

Hendrik has a Masters Degree in Environmental Management. He joined Ecocert in 2014 as an inspector and in January 2015 was appointed as Client Liaison Manager as well. Hendrik is qualified to do EOS, NOP, JAS and KONKUK inspections and is currently training to become the second Certification Officer in the office.

Daniël Kotze:

Daniël studied BSc Conservation Ecology and MSc Plant Pathology at Stellenbosch University. He started working at Ecocert in October 2015 and has since qualified to do EOS and NOP production, processing and export inspectiions. In his free time, he is a keen birdwatcher, hiker and photographer.

Kobus Kellerman:

Kobus recently graduated with MPhil in Environment, Society and Sustainablility from the University of Cape Town. He now spends most of his time as a freelance inspector with the Ecocert Southern African team while also training to become a Fair for Life Inspector.

Zander Venter:

Our only livestock inspector is passionate about bridging the gap between scientific research and its application to sustainable organic agriculture. He is pursuing a PhD in sustainable livestock management which has informed his interest in organic livestock production.